Yoga block and strap combination apparatus

ABSTRACT

A yoga apparatus includes a yoga block defining a throughhole extending between two opposing ends of the yoga block and a strap that has been inserted through the throughhole such that at least portions of the strap exit the throughhole at both of the opposing ends of the yoga block.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62,468,714, filed Mar. 8, 2017, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure relates generally to exercise equipment. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a yoga apparatus in the form of a yoga block that can be used in combination with a yoga strap.

Examples representative of a variety of inventive aspects are set forth in the description that follows. The inventive aspects relate to individual features as well as combinations of features. It is to be understood that both the forgoing general description and the following detailed description merely provide examples of how the inventive aspects may be put into practice, and are not intended to limit the broad spirit and scope of the inventive aspects.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the inventive aspects of the present disclosure and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure and together with the description serve to further explain the principles of the disclosure. Other aspects of the present disclosure and many of the advantages of the present disclosure will be readily appreciated as the present disclosure becomes better understood by reference to the following Detailed Description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a yoga block having features that are examples of inventive aspects in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the yoga block of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a right side view of the yoga block of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the yoga block of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an inventive combination apparatus formed from the yoga block of FIGS. 1-4 and a yoga strap;

FIGS. 6-7 illustrate the front and rear views of the combination apparatus of FIG. 5;

FIGS. 8-9 illustrate the right and left side views of the combination apparatus of FIG. 5;

FIGS. 10-11 illustrate the top and bottom views of the combination apparatus of FIG. 5;

FIG. 12 illustrates the yoga block of FIGS. 1-4 used with a yoga strap in a different orientation than the orientation shown in FIGS. 5-11 to form a second embodiment of the combination apparatus;

FIGS. 13-14 illustrate the front and rear views of the combination apparatus of FIG. 12;

FIGS. 15-16 illustrate the right and left sides of the combination apparatus of FIG. 12; and

FIGS. 17-18 illustrate the top and bottom views of the combination apparatus of FIG. 12.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1-18 illustrate an example embodiment of an exercise apparatus 10 having features that are examples of inventive aspects in accordance with the present disclosure. According to one specific use, the exercise apparatus 10 may be a yoga apparatus that is used in certain yoga movements or positions. In the depicted embodiment, the exercise apparatus 10 includes at least an inventive yoga block or brick 12, as commonly referred to in the art. The inventive yoga block 12 is shown in isolation in FIGS. 1-4.

In certain embodiments, the exercise apparatus 10 may be an inventive combination apparatus 14 that is comprised of the inventive yoga block 12 and a yoga strap 16. As will be described in further detail, either of the inventive yoga block 12 or the yoga strap 16 may be used in isolation as separate yoga exercise apparatuses or may be used in combination to form the inventive combination apparatus 14. FIGS. 5-11 illustrate the combination apparatus 14 that is formed from the inventive yoga block 12 of FIGS. 1-4 and a yoga strap 16 that has been inserted therethrough. FIGS. 12-18 illustrate the yoga block of FIGS. 1-4 used with a yoga strap in a different orientation than the orientation shown in FIGS. 5-11 to form another exemplary embodiment.

In the illustrated example, the inventive yoga block 12 of the exercise apparatus defines a generally rectangular prism shape 18. Although depicted as a rectangular prism, it should be noted that other shapes are applicable to the inventive yoga block 12 as long as the shapes provide support surfaces for supporting a person's body against a ground or a wall surface. The rectangular prism shape 18 is simply one example embodiment and should not be used to limit the inventive features of the apparatus 10.

As shown in FIGS. 1-4, the yoga block 12 defines two opposing major faces 20, 22 (i.e., top and bottom faces), a front face 24, a rear face 26, and two opposing side faces 28, 30 (i.e., right and left faces). It should be noted that the terms such as “top,” “bottom,” “front,” “back,” “right,” “left,” “upper,” and “lower” may be used herein for ease of description and illustration and no restriction is intended by such use of the terms. The yoga apparatus 10 may be used in any orientation, depending upon the desired application.

As noted above, the yoga block 12 can normally be used for certain yoga poses. In certain examples, the yoga block 12 may be used for adding height to a ground or wall surface for certain positions. In other uses, the yoga block 12 may be held between the arms or the legs of the user during certain movements or poses. It is contemplated that one of ordinary skill in the art will understand the uses and applications of such a yoga block 12.

In the depicted inventive example, the yoga block 12 defines a first throughhole 32 extending from the front face 24 to the rear face 26. The yoga block 12 also defines a second throughhole 34 extending between the opposing side faces 28, 30. The second throughhole 34 is provided generally perpendicular to the first throughhole 32. Both of the first and second throughholes 32, 34 are generally spaced on the corresponding faces so as to be centered both widthwise and lengthwise along those faces as seen in FIGS. 1-4.

The purpose of the first and second throughholes 32, 34 is to allow either of the first or second throughholes 32, 34 to be used for inserting the yoga strap 16 for transforming the yoga block 12 into the inventive combination apparatus 14, as discussed above. When the strap 16 has been inserted, the yoga block 12 is transformed into a combination apparatus 14 that utilizes both the yoga block 12 and the yoga strap 16. As noted above, FIGS. 5-11 illustrate the combination apparatus 14 when the yoga strap 16 has been inserted through the yoga block 12 in a front-to-back, lengthwise orientation. FIGS. 12-18 illustrate another exemplary use of the combination apparatus 14 when the yoga strap 16 has been inserted through the yoga block 12 in a side-to-side orientation.

In either orientation, the block part 12 of the combination apparatus 14 can be used to add further length to the strap 16 during certain stretches. In other example uses, the block portion 12 of the combination apparatus 14 may also be used to increase stability when a person's feet are on the block 12 during the stretches.

According to certain examples, the yoga block 12 may be made of a polymeric material and may include dimensions of approximately 9 inches in length (L), 5 to 6 inches in width (W), and 3 to 4 inches in height (H). And, as discussed above, even though the shown yoga block 12 of the combination apparatus 14 is formed from a rectangular prism shape 18, the block 12 may be of other shapes as long as it allows insertion of a yoga strap 16 therethrough from one end face of the block 12 to an opposing end face.

The above specification, examples provide a complete description of the manufacture and use of the disclosure. Since many embodiments of the disclosure can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventive aspects, the inventive aspects resides in the claims hereinafter appended. 

1. A yoga apparatus comprising: a yoga block; a first throughhole extending between two opposing ends of the yoga block; and a second throughhole extending between two different opposing ends of the yoga block, the second throughhole positioned generally perpendicular to the first throughhole.
 2. A yoga apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the yoga block defines dimensions generally of about 9 inches in length, 5-6 inches in width, and 3-4 inches in height.
 3. A yoga apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the yoga block is comprised of a polymeric material.
 4. A yoga apparatus comprising: a yoga block defining a generally rectangular prism shape, the rectangular prism shape defining first and second opposing major faces, a front face, an opposing rear face, and first and second opposing side faces; a first throughhole extending between two non-major faces of the yoga block.
 5. A yoga apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a second throughhole extending between two non-major faces of the yoga block.
 6. A yoga apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the first throughhole is perpendicular to the second throughhole.
 7. A yoga apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the yoga block defines dimensions generally of about 9 inches in length, 5-6 inches in width, and 3-4 inches in height.
 8. A yoga apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the yoga block is comprised of a polymeric material.
 9. A yoga apparatus comprising: a yoga block defining a first throughhole extending between two opposing ends of the yoga block; and a strap that has been inserted through the first throughhole such that at least portions of the strap exit the first throughhole at both of the opposing ends of the yoga block.
 10. A yoga apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the yoga block defines a second throughhole extending between two different opposing ends of the yoga block, the second throughhole positioned generally perpendicular to the first throughhole.
 11. A yoga apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the yoga block defines dimensions generally of about 9 inches in length, 5-6 inches in width, and 3-4 inches in height.
 12. A yoga apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the yoga block is comprised of a polymeric material.
 13. A yoga apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the yoga block defines a generally rectangular prism shape, the rectangular prism shape defining first and second opposing major faces, a front face, an opposing rear face, and first and second opposing side faces, the first throughhole extending between two non-major faces of the yoga block.
 14. A yoga apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising a second throughhole extending between two non-major faces of the yoga block.
 15. A yoga apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the first throughhole is perpendicular to the second throughhole.
 16. A method of assembling a yoga apparatus, the method comprising: inserting a strap through a throughhole defined between opposing ends of a yoga block.
 17. A method according to claim 16, wherein the throughhole is a first throughhole and the yoga block defines a second throughhole extending between two different opposing ends of the yoga block, the second throughhole positioned generally perpendicular to the first throughhole.
 18. A method according to claim 16, wherein the yoga block defines dimensions generally of about 9 inches in length, 5-6 inches in width, and 3-4 inches in height.
 19. A method according to claim 16, wherein the yoga block is comprised of a polymeric material.
 20. A method according to claim 16, further comprising removing the strap from the throughhole and inserting the strap through a second throughhole of the yoga block that is positioned generally perpendicular to the throughhole. 